Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year

History - Officers

Background History

The National Teacher of the Year program began in 1952 and continues as the oldest, most prestigious national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching.

The Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Teacher of the Year (NSTOY-PA) program began in 1995. NSTOY-PA works with PDE to support the program by providing services and materials to select and honor the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is a non-voting member of the NSTOY-PA, and along with the Executive Board, provides direction for the program selection process, funding and guidance for the annual teachers’ forum, and technical assistance to the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year once selected.

PA Teacher of the Year Winners

Pennsylvania is proud of the 00 past recipients of its Teacher of the Year:

Year / Name / School/District
2010 / Michelle Switala / Pine-Richland High School
2009 / Rebecca Snyder / Greater Latrobe Senior High School
2008 / David Woten / Carson Middle School
2007 / Lois Rebich / Ross Elementary School
2006 / Barbara Benglian / Upper Darby SD
2005 / Nikki Salvatico / Great Valley SD
2004 / Leslie Nicholas / Wyoming Valley West SD
2003 / Joyce Dunn / Shanksville-Stonycreek SD
2002 / Ralph Maltrese / Abington Senior HS
2001 / Nicholas J. Uliano / Phoenixville Area HS
2000 / Faith G. Kline / Philadelphia SD
1999 / Barbara Brathwaite / Pocono Mountain Intermediate
1998 / Susan Van Zile / Cumberland Valley SD
1997 / Robert Werner / Derry Area SD
1996 / Susan Rodriguez / Philadelphia SD
1995 / Ranjini Weerasooriya
Deborah Spencer / Philadelphia SD
1994 / Yvonne Savior
Jean Ditillo / Philadelphia SD
1993 / Violet Geib
Gloria Goode / Manheim Central SD
1992 / Rudolph Sharpe, Jr.
Merry Lee Chandler / Lower Dauphin SD
1991 / Karen Kreider
Albertine Washington / Philadelphia SD
Lebanon SD
1990 / Howard Selekman / Dorseyville Jr.HS
1989 / Cathy Gust / Stiegel Elementary
1988 / Vera Bej / Cumberland Valley SD
1987 / Linda Bryant / Allegheny Middle School
1986 / Martha Dolfi / Pittsburgh School District
1985 / Ida Dark / Philadelphia SD
1984 / Frank Champine / Poquessing Jr. HS
1983 / Roger Babusci / Schenley HS
1982 / Janice Davis / Dalton Elementary
1981 / Louis DeVicaris / Cheltenham HS
1980 / Carol Dyas / Langley HS
1979 / Frederick DelMonte / West View Jr. HS
1978 / Robert Arista / Canon-McMillan HS
1977 / William Dowling / Wyomissing Area HS
1976 / Yvonne Toney / Craig Ridgeway Elementary
1975 / Arthur Smith / Ridley HS
1974 / Rosemary Palaferro / Charles F. Foose Elementary
1973 / Robert Reidenback / Abington Heights HS
1972 / Mary Duff / Sulzberger Jr. HS
1971 / E. Marie Boyle / Penncrest HS
1970 / Curtis Keller / McDonald Elementary
1969 / Richard S. Smith / Marple Newtown SD
1968 / Marie George / (District Name Unavailable)
1967 / Hilda Kring / Slippery Rock HS
1966 / Pauline Keiper / Hollidaysburg SD
1965 / George McGorman / Sun Valley HS
1964 / Thomas Manley / Selinsgrove HS
1961 / James DeRose / Marple-Newtown HS
1957 / Adelaide deMaison / Meadville Area HS

Executive Committee Members (2009-2011)

Lora O’Brien
President
/ Fran Nesta
Executive Director

Nikki Salvatico
Immediate Past President
/ Diane Heitzenrater
First Vice President

Michael Bieber
Second Vice President
/ Michael Choroneko
Treasurer

Rebecca Snyder
Secretary
/ Andrea Martine
Director of External Relations

Colleen Myers
Forum Vice-Chair
/ Donald Roberts
Director of Round II

Dolorez Cobb-Jones
PDE

717-783-4307 / Cindy Ollendyke
Director of Professional Development